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With only three days left before players were due to report for their training-camp physicals, restricted free agent Bobby Ryan and the Ducks agreed on a five-year, $25.5-million deal that ended a long and tedious negotiating process.

[Updated at 10:57 a.m.: According to figures from capgeek.com, which confirms a
report from ESPN's E.J. Hradek, Ryan will be paid $3.25 million in the
first season of his new deal (2010-11) and $5,562,500 each of the last
four seasons.]

The key element is that Ryan, 23, will be paid less on an average annual basis than Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, who have seniority -- and a Stanley Cup title. Ryan's salary cap will be $5.1 million annually; Getzlaf and Perry will each average $5.325 million in the three seasons that each has left on his respective contract.

That was a key element for both sides: recognizing Ryan's value after he scored 66 goals the last two seasons but still respecting Getzlaf's and Perry's status and experience. And the Ducks didn't want all three players becoming free agents at the same time, a potential cap-busting situation.

According to CapGeek.com, Ryan's contract is evenly distributed at $5.1 million per year.

Ryan turned down a five-year, $25-million offer earlier this summer, and talks slowed for weeks, but the deal was done Tuesday.